232 E. MAWLEY — PHEXOLOGICAL PHEIfOMEXA 



was singularly warm and dry the atmosphere on the whole re- 

 mained calm and humid, and there was an unusually scanty record 

 of clear sunshine. 



From an agricultural point of view, the winter of 1895-96 must 

 be regarded as having been in almost every respect a remarkably 

 favourable one. Owing to the dry and open weather, the cultiva- 

 tion of the land was scarcely interrupted for a single day. During 

 February the ground was in such splendid condition for working 

 that the arrears of wheat-sowing, due to the wet autumn, were 

 soon made up, and the grain was sown under the most favourable 

 conditions possible. The autumn-sown corn was also benefited 

 by the mild season, and yet never became sufficiently forward to be 

 considered " winter proud." This was no doubt in a great measure 

 due to the paucity of sunshine. Moreover, the grass in the pastures 

 remained fresh and green thi'oughout the whole season. Unlike 

 the previous winter, there was always a plentiful supply of green 

 vegetables in the gardens. 



Our Watford representative, Mrs. Gr. E. Bishop, mentions the 

 scarcity of ivy and holly-berries in December, and the unusually 

 green appearance for the time of year of the grass, both in the 

 fields and on the lawns, at the end of February. Miss E. F. Smith, 

 as illustrating the open character of the season, states that as early 

 as the 20th of January she had noticed buttercups, both creeping 

 and bulbous, in flower by the roadside close to St. Albans. At 

 Berkhamsted the winter aconite was in blossom in my garden on 

 January 9th, or a fortnight earlier than its average date for the 

 previous seven years, and three days earlier than in any of those 

 years. 



The first plant on the list, the hazel, taking the mean date for 

 all the stations, came into blossom four days in advance of its 

 average date for the preceding nineteen years, while the coltsfoot 

 was one day early. 



The song-thrush was first heard after the beginning of the year 

 on Januaiy 12th, which is four days earlier than its usual time. 



The honey-bee first visited flowers three days later than the 

 mean date. 



The Spring. 



The weather of March may be concisely described as having been 

 warm, wet, and windy ; whereas April and May, although also 

 warm for the time of year, were remarkably dry, and had an 

 unusually calm atmosphere. The first two months of the season 

 proved sunless, while May, on the other hand, continued singularly 

 bright even for this sunny mouth. 



Throughout the greater part of the quarter the weather-con- 

 ditions were again favourable for the farmer. Indeed, until about 

 the middle of May, seldom has the prospect, all things considered, 

 been so promising. About this time, however, the continued dry 

 weather was beginning to make itself seriously felt, and especially 

 by the pastures, the grass in which made scarcely any growth. 



